Suspect Slapped Girl’s Buttocks, Pinellas Deputies Say

Deputies are searching for the suspect, who inappropriately touched a teen. The incident happened in Seminole.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies are searching for a man who, they say, inappropriately touched a teenaged girl.

Deputies said the incident happened about 5 p.m. Friday (Dec. 2). The 15-year-old victim was walking home from Seminole High School when she saw the man walking northbound on the west side of Oakhurst Road near 58th Avenue N in Seminole.

The man hid behind a bush and waited for a school crossing guard to leave the area before he started walking towards the victim, deputies said. The victim became nervous and went northbound on Oakhurst Road, walking away from the man. He followed the girl, came up behind her, and slapped her on the buttocks with his hand.

The girl ran away but the man followed, jogging behind her for about a half mile. Deputies said he was unable to catch up to the teen. He was last seen near 9130 Oakhurst Road.

The teen was not injured.

The suspect is described as a white male, 40 to 50 years old with a thin build, with gray hair, a beard, wearing a yellow T-shirt, white shorts, and white sneakers. Deputies worked with the victim to provide a composite sketch of the suspect.

Anyone with information that might help deputies is asked to contact Cpl. Paniccia, of the Crimes Against Children Unit at (727) 582-6200. Or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or crimestoppersofpinellas.org.